Slide Tools and Methods to Move Racked Tubulars

ABSTRACT

A tool and method for moving racked tubulars, such as pipe and casing joints on pipe racks at oil and gas well sites, wherein the tool comprises a disk assembly with a handle section. The disk assembly comprising at least one disk with a surface to slideably interface the interior surface of the pipe section during lateral movement of the pipe section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to methods and devices for manually moving racked tubulars and, more particularly, but without limitation, to moving racked tubulars at oil and gas wells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Drill pipe and casing segments typically are racked up in one or more rows on pipe racks at the well site. Commonly, these tubulars are retrieved by hand, with one or more workers at the site at the ends of the pipe and roll each pipe segment individually to the end of the rack using either or both a rotational and hand-over-hand motion. At the end of the pipe rack other equipment picks up the pipe segments and move them to the rig. In the case of multi-level racks, workers often must lean over longer pipe segments to reach a shorter pipe segment. This direct manual manipulation of the pipe segments exposes the workers to several risks, including hand and back injuries. Additionally, this operation may result in inadvertent movement of pipes on a lower level of the rack, which also can be hazardous to the worker, or others in proximity.

Close prior art may be exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 9,057,224, filed on Jan. 22, 2015, U.S. Pat. No. 9,291,009, filed on May 21, 2015, and U.S. Pat. No. 9,598,915, filed on Feb. 11, 2016, all titled “Devices and Methods for Manually Moving Racked Tubulars,” by Andrew J. Cogburn, Jr. As may be seen in the prior art, an elongated tool may be partially insertable within a pipe segment, with a handle remaining external to the pipe segment to impart lateral movement of the pipe by manipulating the tool. The prior art includes a plurality of wheels, rotatably mounted on a wheel assembly section of the tool, and relies on frictional contact between the peripheral surface of the wheels and interior surface of the pipe segment. It would be an improvement to the prior art to be able to eliminate the bearings and rolling feature of the wheels on the prior art. In the dirty and demanding environment of drilling work, damage to the bearings, and particles of debris that may impede the rolling function of the tool, may interfere with the rolling action of the wheels, which is essential to the prior art solution.

The present invention eliminates the bearings and rolling function, and therefore the requirement that the wheels rotate around the shaft. The present invention relies on a surface material that supports a slideable interface between the outer circumference of the disk and the interior of a pipe segment, and replaces the prior art rotating wheels with slide disks, which are rotationally fixed, or have a limited pivot about the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary tool of the present invention inserted into a partially cut-away exemplary pipe segment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration from the handle end of an exemplary tool of the present invention inserted into an exemplary pipe segment.

FIG. 3 is an oblique photograph of an exemplary embodiment of the tool, and a supplemental pair of alternately sized disks.

FIG. 4 is an oblique photograph of the disk assembly of the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an oblique photograph of the disk assembly of the exemplary embodiments of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 6a and 6b are oblique photographs of a disk secured to a shaft by an exemplary securement pin.

FIG. 7 is an oblique photograph of an alternate embodiment disk securable to a shaft by an exemplary securement pin.

FIG. 8 is an oblique photograph of an exemplary disk lubricated with grease.

FIG. 9 is an oblique photograph of a person using a slide tool to move a pipe segment on a stack of tubulars.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As used herein, “pipe,” “pipe segment,” or “tubular” means any kind of cylindrical tubular member with an open center. This includes, but is not limited to, drill pipe, drill collars, casing joints, and casing collars. “Racked tubulars” means tubulars supported on a raised horizontal surface, such as a pipe rack, whether in single row or in multiple rows with intervening layer beams.

Referring now primarily to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a slide tool 10 and method for moving racked tubulars or pipe segments 12 at a well site. The slide tool 10 comprises one or more disks 122 arranged along a disk assembly 20, attached to a handle segment 30. In an exemplary embodiment, the disk assembly 20 and handle segment 30 comprise a common shaft 40 that provides the predominant structure for the slide tool 10. The design of the slide tool 10 is generally configured around an axis α, through the length of shaft 40. The disk assembly 20 may be mounted on the shaft 40 perpendicular to the axis α. The disk assembly 20 may be mounted on the shaft 40 centered on the axis α. The degree of precision with which the disk assembly 20 of this disclosure is “centered” on the shaft 40 does not require it to be “precisely centered,” but, instead, “generally centered” within accepted tolerances in the industry.

In the exemplary embodiment, the shaft 40 may comprise one or more position holes 132. Position holes 132 may be holes through the center axis of shaft 40. Position holes 132 may be appropriately spaced out along shaft 40 support desirable positioning of disks 122. In the exemplary embodiment, a disk 122 may have a collar 126 positioned in the center of the disk 122 to be coaxial with axis α when positioned for use. A collar 126 may be sized to slideably receive the disk assembly 20 portion of shaft 40. In the exemplary embodiment, a disk 122 may be positioned perpendicular to axis α and a shaft 40 with the shaft 40 inserted through a collar 126.

In the exemplary embodiment, collar 126 forms the center of a disk 122. Exemplary collar 126 has a fixation hole 127 similarly sized to the position holes 132 on a suitable shaft 40. A pin 128 may be appropriately sized for insertion through fixation hole 127 and position hole 132. A pin 128 may be inserted through the collar 126 at fixation holes 127, and simultaneously through position holes 132. Insertion of pin 128 through collar 126 and shaft 40 may fix the location of disk 122 along the length of shaft 40, and may also fix disk 122 rotationally with respect to shaft 40. A plurality of position holes 132 along a length of shaft 40 permits disk 122 to be mounted at various locations along the shaft 40.

A stop 134 may be positioned coaxial to axis α on shaft 40, intermediate a handle 30 and a disk assembly 20. Stop 134 may have one or more wings 136, which protrude outwardly from stop 134. Wings 136 may be appropriately sized to protrude out further from stop 134 than the anticipated diameter of a pipe segment 12 to be manipulated by the particular slide tool 10, so as to prevent the insertion of the handle into the pipe segment 12.

In the exemplary embodiment, disk 122 may be fabricated out of a strong, durable material, which may include steel and aluminum, among others. A suitable slide material 202 may be either or both formed and affixed to the collar 126 to form the circumferential exterior of the disk 122. In the exemplary embodiment, collar 126 is rigidly connected to disk 122, such that there is not movement between the collar and the disk 122. A suitable slide material 202 supports a slideable interface with the interior surface 14 of a pipe segment 12, and may be comprised of a variety of materials. Suitable materials may include brass and other metals, nylon, polypropylene and polyethylene, along with other polymers. Some specifically suitable polymers may include a form of cast nylon 6, marketed by Quadrant EPP USA, Inc., under the brand name NYLATRON® 703XL, polytetrafluoroethylene, marketed by The Chemours Company, under the brand name TEFLON®, and HDPE High Density Polyethylene, marketed by Boedeker Plastics, Inc., in Shiner, Tex.

Referring now primarily to FIGS. 3 through 7, alternate disks 322 are shown to have a similar collar 126 to disk 122, but with a different diameter. Alternate disks 322 may be fabricated in a wide assortment of sizes, dependent on the size of the pipe segment 12 to be moved. A larger diameter pipe segment 12 may require a larger diameter alternate disk 322, where a smaller diameter pipe segment 12 may require a smaller diameter alternate disk 322, like those shown.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 7, in an alternate exemplary embodiment, a slotted disk 702 may be adapted for use in a slide tool 10, and permit limited pivoting movement of disk 702 about axis α of a shaft 40. Disk 702 may have a collar 126 with a pair of radial slots 704 sized wide enough to accept a pin 128. Radial slots 704 may be formed within collar 126 to interface with a pin 128 passing through an axis α of a shaft 40. Radial slots 704 restricts the movement of disk 702 to a limited range of pivot about axis α of the shaft 40. Insertion of pin 128 through pin slot 704, in collar 126, and shaft 40 fixes the location of disk 122 along the length of shaft 40, and limits the degree to which disk 122 may pivot about axis α of shaft 40.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 8, a disk 122 is shown on which lubricant 802 has been spread. The exemplary disk 122 is formed from natural HDPE. Since the disk 122 is not rotatably mounted to shaft 40, but instead relies on slide surface 124 sliding against the interior surface 14 of the pipe segment 12, a lubricant 802, such as grease, may provide improved slide properties.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 9, a plurality of pipe segments 12 are shown stacked on a pipe rack 902. Pipe racks 902 may be used in storage yards or at a work site to support multiple pipe segments 12 in a orderly fashion. A pipe rack 902 may create a horizontal surface on which pipe segments 12 may be stored and rollably moved. Layer beams 904 may be used to horizontally separate layers of pipe segments 12 on a pipe rack, and also provide a horizontal surface on which pipe segments 12 may be more easily rolled, in contrast to rolling an upper layer pipe segment 12 over the peaks and valleys created by a lower layer of pipe segments 12.

Referring now primarily to FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, a pipe segment 12 may be moved by inserting the disk assembly 20 in an end of the pipe 12. A user may then apply either or both lateral force LF and rotational force RF to the interior surface 14 of the pipe 12, through the slide tool 10, from the tool handle 30. In an exemplary embodiment, downward lateral force LFd may angularly leverage the disk assembly 20 against exemplary bind points 140 on the interior surface 14 of the pipe segment 12 to create adequate friction between the disk assembly 20 and the interior surface 14. Alternate bind points may exist within the pipe segment 12 wherever disk segment 20 may be leveraged against the interior surface 14. With the disks 122 permitted only a limited pivot with respect to the handle 30, rotation of the handle 30 may result in rotation of the disks 122 of the disk segment 20. While the slide tool 10 is angularly leveraged, rotational force RF applied to the disk segment 20 may impart rotation in the pipe segment 12. In this way mounting disk segment 20 to shaft 40 either fixedly or with restricted pivotal motion about axis α of shaft 40 enables a user to transfer rotation of the entire slide tool 10 through disk segment 20 into the pipe segment 12. Once the pipe segment 12 begins to rotate, the linear force LF may be reduced, which will reduce the angular leverage of the slide tool 10 within the pipe segment 12 resulting in reduced friction between the disk assembly 20 and the interior surface 14 of the pipe segment 12, permitting the interior surface 14 of the pipe segment 12 to slide over the circumferential slide surface 124 of the disks 122 of the disk assembly 20. Lateral force LF on the tool may impart continued lateral movement of the pipe segment 12 while disks 22 of the disk assembly 20 remains rotationally fixed with respect to the tool handle 30. In this fashion the pipe segment 12 rolls along the horizontal surface, while the slide tool laterally moves without rotation about axis α. Horizontal and lateral movement of the pipe segment 12 may be controlled by balancing the lateral forces LF through the slide tool 10. The restricted pivot movement of the disk assembly 20 enables the ability to suspend the horizontal movement of the pipe segment 12.

The examples and descriptions contained in this specification are merely possible implementations of the current development, and alternatives may still fall within the scope of the allowed claims. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents, since the provided exemplary embodiments are only examples of how the invention may be employed, and are not exhaustive. 

1. A tool for manually moving a racked tubular along a horizontal surface, wherein the racked tubular has an open end continuous with an inner diameter and an inner surface, the tool comprising: a shaft having a handle section with a longitudinal axis and a slide section with a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the slide section are collinear; a disk assembly having at least one disk mounted about and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slide section; and wherein the slide section and the disk assembly mounted thereon form a distal end of the tool, and wherein the distal end of the tool is configured to be received inside the racked tubular so that the disk assembly slideably engages the inner surface of the racked tubular during lateral movement of the racked tubular perpendicular to the axis of the slide section.
 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the disk assembly is mounted centered on the longitudinal axis of the slide section.
 3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the disk assembly comprises two disks.
 4. The tool of claim 3 wherein each of the two disks in the disk assembly is adjustably mounted so that the axial position of the disk on the shaft is changeable. 5-9. (canceled)
 10. The tool of claim 1 wherein the handle section and the slide section of the shaft are integrally formed of a single elongate member.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The tool of claim 1 wherein the disk assembly comprises two disks and wherein each of the disks is adjustably mounted so that the axial position of the disk on the shaft is changeable.
 13. A method for moving racked tubulars along at least one horizontal surface, wherein each of the racked tubulars has a first open end continuous with an inner diameter, the method comprising: providing at least one pipe sliding tool comprising: a shaft having a handle section with a longitudinal axis and a slide section with a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axes of the handle section and the slide section are parallel; and a disk assembly mounted on and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slide section of the shaft, and wherein the disk assembly is sized to be received inside the racked tubular; manually inserting the disk assembly of a first one of the at least one pipe sliding tool into the first open end of a first one of the racked tubulars; and using the handle section of the shaft of the first pipe sliding tool, manually moving the first pipe sliding tool laterally perpendicular to axis of the handle section whereby the first tubular rolls laterally perpendicular to axis of the slide section along the at least one horizontal surface.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: after rolling the first racked tubular, manually withdrawing the disk assembly of the first tool from the first tubular; manually inserting the disk assembly of the first tool into the first open end of a second one of the racked tubulars; and using the handle section of the shaft, manually moving the first tool laterally perpendicular to axis of the handle section whereby the second tubular rolls laterally perpendicular to axis of the slide section along the at least one horizontal surface. 15-18. (canceled)
 19. The method of claim 13 wherein the racked tubulars are well tubulars and wherein the at least one horizontal surface is a pipe rack at a well site.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one horizontal surface comprises first and second parallel horizontal surfaces, one above the other, wherein the racked tubulars comprises first and second racked tubulars, wherein the first racked tubular is on one of the first and second raised surfaces and the second racked tubular is on the other of the first and second raised surfaces, and wherein the method further comprises: after rolling the first racked tubular, manually withdrawing the disk assembly of the first tool from the first tubular; manually inserting the disk assembly of the first tool into the first open end of a second one of the racked tubulars; and using the handle section of the shaft of the tool, manually moving the first tool laterally perpendicular to axis of the handle section whereby the second tubular rolls laterally perpendicular to axis of the slide section along the at least one horizontal surface.
 21. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one disk comprises a suitable slide material.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the suitable slide material is a metal.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein the suitable slide material is a polymer.
 24. The method of claim 21 wherein the suitable slide material is brass.
 25. The method of claim 21 wherein the suitable slide material is a cast nylon.
 26. The method of claim 21 wherein the suitable slide material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
 27. The method of claim 21 wherein the suitable slide material is high density polyethylene.
 28. The method of claim 21 wherein the suitable slide material is selected from the group consisting of brass, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon.
 29. The method of claim 13 further comprising: the disk assembly having at least one disk mounted about and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slide section; and imparting lateral horizontal movement of the racked tubular while the disk assembly remains rotationally fixed.
 30. The method of claim 29 further comprising: applying a lubricant to the at least one disk. 